Weekend RN

:

Summary:

Under the direction of the Clinical Manager, provides skilled nursing care in compliance with assigned patient's evolving hospice Plan of Care.

Ensures nursing services are provided in compliance with state and federal regulations/requirements and in accordance with the policies and procedures of Yolo Hospice.

Ensures documentation of provided and planned nursing services is completed in a timely manner and made available to all other staff to maintain continuity of patient care.

Responsibilities

• Completes the nursing assessment of assigned patients. Maintains an ongoing assessment within hospice guidelines to determine if patient fulfills hospice criteria.
• Collaborates with other core disciplines (medicine, social work, and spiritual care counseling) in accordance with patient's problems (aka Plan of Care ) to meet care goals.
• Coordinates provision of necessary medications, durable medical equipment, and disposable medical supplies. Ensures cost-effective and timely provision of the above.
• Knows and utilizes Universal Precautions in the provision of all direct patient care.
• Provides ongoing professional nursing care for each assigned patient. Regularly assesses and reevaluates patient nursing needs and related patient/family support needs. Reports findings to supervisor and updates problems and IDT as appropriate.
• Provides scheduled nursing visits or arranges for additional nursing visits required due to changes in patient status or family need.
• As patient/family needs or goals are assessed, and/or changing RN shall

:

a.

Communicate with the Attending Physician or designee regarding changes in condition and emergent patient needs; obtain and document necessary physician orders.

b.

Assess and collaborate with supervisor on appropriate change in Level of Care for patients:

Continuous Care, Respite Care, or General In-Patient Care, decertification/discharge from the Hospice Program.

• Responsible for overseeing physical and emotional care of each assigned patient by teaching needed nursing care and support skills to patient and/or involved family caregivers, per nursing assessment and per patient's Plan of Care.
• Provides instructions regarding medication, activity, diet, symptom management, safety, expected disease progression and the dying process when in accordance with the patient's Plan of Care with Attending Physician input.
• Provides appropriate aftercare for each patient at the time of his or her death.
• Ensures all involved staff members are informed of a patient death promptly.
• Ensures all patient documentation is complete, accurate, reflects nursing assessments, interventions and goals according to the individualized patient/family Plan of Care and Yolo Hospice standards of care.
• Completes or updates patient Plan of Care so problems, plans, actions, and goals are accurately and clearly stated and written in accordance with federal, state, and Yolo Hospice standards. Medical orders are obtained, documented, and submitted promptly as Plan of Care amendments. Visit notes are written to clearly reflect interventions and goals.

Communication

• Attends clinically based meetings as required or invited and works to develop and update professional standards of care within the framework of Yolo Hospice.
• Maintains professional working relationships with other health care providers and programs (physicians, nursing home and other facility staff, hospital staff, etc.)
• Notifies supervisor of issues with other health care providers which may require clinical or administrative interventions to maintain or improve working relationships.

Nursing Roles

Staff Nurse with Case Management Duties

As a staff registered nurse, fulfills the obligation of requested and/or accepted case assignments, meeting Yolo Hospice standards.

Nurse Providing On-call Services and/or Weekend Assignments

When functioning as an on-call nurse responsible for triaging incoming after hour calls, determining when nursing or other visits are needed, and working with other staff to ensure patient's urgent care needs are met.

Responsible for apprising appropriate staff about all calls and visits at the beginning of the next shift or workday; completes documentation of visit.

This position may require rotating weekend on-call shifts.

It is understood that on occasion, flexibility and possibly modifying your work schedule based on patient needs will be required.

DOCUMENTATION

Ensures all patient documentation is complete, accurate, and reflects nursing assessments, interventions and goals according to Yolo Hospice standards and the individualized patient/family Plan of Care.

Note:

The above statements are intended to be a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by the incumbent of this job.

The incumbent may, from time to time, be requested to perform job-related tasks other than those stated.

Requirements:

Job Qualifications

• A current license in the State of California as a Registered Nurse.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing in English is required. Spanish language skills are also encouraged.
• Three (3) years of recent clinical nursing experience is required. Experience in home care or hospice care is preferred.
• Must demonstrate strong clinical nursing skills an understanding of, and commitment to, the general philosophy and goals of hospice care.
• Must be a self-motivating individual who can work both autonomously and collaboratively, take initiative, set priorities, and organize work effectively.
• Must demonstrate ability to make independent clinical and other work-related decisions appropriately and to work effectively with community physicians and other health care disciplines toward specified goals.
• Ability to handle frequent interruptions and to complete duties timely.
• Management experience is not required, but must be able to supervise Hospice Aides.
• Ability to successfully meet agency background screening requirements.

Physical & other JOB SPECIFICATIONS

• Ability to safely lift medical equipment (eg a wheelchair) weighing up to 35 pounds and to assist family/caregivers with transferring and ambulating patients as safety requires; considerable walking and standing may be required.
• Must have visual acuity and hearing to perform required nursing tasks and duties.
• Ability and willingness to flex or add work hours to meet scheduled on-call shifts during evenings, weekends, and holidays is required.
• Ability and willingness to maintain and drive a personal vehicle. A valid California driver's license and state-required automobile insurance are required.

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